Located in the historic Dartington Hall estate, just two miles (3 kms) from Totnes is a very different retail centre. Beside the Bidwell Brook, a selection of stone buildings house a visitor and craft centre in a village atmosphere.

The centre sells quality arts and crafts as well as organic foods. It operates in line with the Dartington Hall Trust’s objectives of encouraging local initiatives. All profits are covenanted to the Trust and used to support a wide variety of charitable activities.

The shops sell Dartington crystal, designer arts and crafts, pottery, children’s toys, home wares, and fine foods. There is a ‘Cranks’ whole food restaurant on site.

In the 1930s the Dartington Trust started manufacturing apple juice and Dartington Cider with apples gleaned from local orchards. A local potter supplied the pottery containers in which the product was sold. When the cider making was transferred to another site, the press and pottery became part of the current retail site.

The 'Shops at Dartington' is an excellent place to start a day exploring Dartington Hall and Gardens. Behind the Tridias Toyshop and before Dartington Pottery, adjacent to Bidwell Brook, are the 19th century Lime Kilns.

Green Power

Another interesting building on the site is the old Lower Tweed Textile Mill now refurbished as a carbon neutral operation. The waterwheel is being used to generate electricity to power the site as well as the electric vehicles working across the Centre.